One of last year's best films has been made into one of this year's best dvd special editions!  "OUT OF SIGHT" is based on a novel by Elmore Leonard.   George Clooney's performance as a bank robber on the run after a prison break is excellent.  Jennifer Lopez as the Federal Marshal out to get him is also quite good, but not as incredible as most critics seem to suggest.  The real star of this film is Director Steven Soderbergh!  He's one of the best, overlooked filmmakers alive today, and we implore UNIVERSAL to release his "King of the Hill" on DVD!  In the meanwhile,  "OUT OF SIGHT" is a throwback to the best movies of the '70s, in pacing, cinematography and attitude.  Director Steven Soderbergh offers commentary along with screenwriter Scott Frank on an alternate track.  In addition, there's an original documentary on the making of the film along with Soderbergh, Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Albert Brooks, Don Cheadle, Ving Rhames and more!  There's also a section of deleted scenes, the best of which is an extended take of the Clooney/Lopez trunk scene, adding even more depth and understanding of their attraction to eachother.

The visual quality of the transfer is outstanding!  UNIVERSAL has chosen to master this for 16:9 widescreen, creating even more clarity than a non 16:9 enhanced dvd.   Fleshtones are consistent and contrast is excellent.  There are no artifacts visible throughout the film.  The dolby digital 5.1 sound is pretty active, featuring split speaker effects, but also adding to the musical cues of each scene.

Although we're sometimes disappointed at the selection process or "lack thereof" UNIVERSAL seems to utilize in their dvd programming, we're extremely pleased they made the effort to release "HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT" with a fine dvd transfer.   "HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT" has been compared to "JOY LUCK CLUB" and while the films are very different, its mood and subtle beauty are similar.  Another important comparison can be made in that they both transcend gender in terms of appreciation.  Every mature film lover should enjoy this!

The dvd transfer, while not having the 16:9 enhancement it deserves, is quite sharp.   The colors are vibrant,(a necessity made clear in scenes near the vacation pool) contrast is excellent, and fleshtones perfect.  More importantly, the soundtrack has been encoded with Dolby Digital 5.1.  While there are some directional effects enhanced with dolby digital 5.1, the biggest benefit lies in the stirring musical score, worth purchasing the dvd alone for!!!!

As already mentioned many times in the past, UNIVERSAL has such a tremendous library of "GREAT" films, that we're surprised every time they choose to release anything less than terrific.  With that in mind, there's a lot to be said for the dvd release of "The Flintstones".  While the film's plot is completely lacking in substance, it's visually entertaining!  The dvd transfer further helps impress this matter with a glorious 16:9 enhancement.  The set designs are fun to watch and the color scheme is greatly assisted with the vibrant transfer achieved here!  The dolby digital 5.1 sound offers a substantial improvement over the standard pro-logic version offered on laserdisc.  There's an extremely active sound mix, and it's virtually non-stop throughout the film.  We can't wait to hear what the DTS version will do to improve upon this excellent transfer!  Director Brian Levant offers audio commentary on an alternate track.  His commentary. while not thought provoking, is entertaining, and even instructive as to the difficulties of the film making process.  In addition to the theatrical trailer there's an original documentary and more.